Job title: Buyer
Reporting to: Supply Chain Director
Location: Lakeland, USA
The Opportunity
This post holder will drive the implementation of the Procurement strategy for purchased products within their remit, supporting the global department and championing teamwork. Identifying new suppliers, developing cost-reduction initiatives, increasing efficiencies, and mitigating risk from a supply perspective are integral to this role. There must be focus on sourcing from a global supply base, developing new and existing supplier relationships and ensuring sustainable and ethical supply of key raw materials. Regular and proactive communication with all stakeholders, suppliers and key contacts within the supply chain will be essential. Providing real time market updates as well as market intelligence and proactive, innovative solutions to supply challenges and risks are an integral part of this position.
This role will focus on managing all key aspects of the supply chain from origin to contract negotiation, to material receipt, to stock, ensuring continuity of supply of key raw materials to the business. There will be substantial collaboration with external relationships to foster along with a range of internal functions including, but not limited to, Supply Chain, Technical, Operations, and Commercial
What it’s like to work here
We’ve been making the world taste better since 1886 and sell over 3000 products in more than 90 countries, but we’re only just getting started. We’re on an exciting journey and have ambitious plans to become the indispensable partner of choice for the world’s leading flavor and fragrance houses, beverage and consumer brands.
On joining Treatt, you’ll become one of over 300 international experts, working together to collectively surprise and delight our customers. Nothing is more important to us than the happiness of our people as without them, we’d never succeed.
Duties & Responsibilities
The duties and tasks involve the following:
• Develop, manage, and implement sourcing strategies
• Maintain a high level of internal and external service provision
• Full procurement cycle responsibility and autonomy for sourcing of materials
• Actively contribute to in-depth spend analysis and market analysis on targeted areas of spend, and across categories
• Investigate and implement ways of reducing cost by way of alternative supplier sourcing, increasing payment terms, and /or negotiating better prices
• Maintain awareness of market conditions and material supply issues, identifying and mitigating supply risk and communicating any pertinent information to relevant internal and external customers through proactive communications
• Stakeholder Engagement - advise and support stakeholders on business related matters to maximize value from opportunities and supply arrangements
• Contractual and Commercial Negotiations - where appropriate manage risks and value for money through effective negotiations and appropriate contractual relationships
• Manage Treatt’s pricing system for designated product category
• Visit suppliers and customers where necessary and attend industry events as and when required which will involve international travel
• Utilize all resources and systems available, including JDE, to maintain optimal levels of inventory and ensure continuity of supply
• Provide education opportunities across all formats including presentations, regarding the portfolio of products to ensure product and market awareness through collation of existing knowledge as well as provision of new information.
• Build and develop strong working relationships with suppliers and key stakeholders
• Identify and qualify new suppliers to secure more cost-effective sources of supply
• Support and deliver procurement objectives, and proactively support the development of the procurement function
• Act as a mentor and source of knowledge and expertise to Buyers and Junior Buyers globally
• Perform such other tasks as are consistent with the general role description and job title, which may be subject to change from time to time
Education & Training
• Degree level education
• Relevant Supply Chain qualification or recognized certification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential Criteria:
• A minimum of 5 years Procurement experience in a complex buying role, or equivalent supply chain experience
• Commercial mindset with a strong focus on providing the best possible service to our customers, both internal and external
• Proven experience dealing with high value contracts and purchases
• In depth understanding of supply & demand
• Experience sourcing from a global supply base
• Strong technical knowledge relevant to respective categories and portfolio of products
• Competent international traveler
Desirable Criteria:
• Experience of working within the Flavor & Fragrance industry
• A good understanding and experience of using systems in which we operate (JDE, EXCEL)
• Direct buying experience with a high volume of SKU’s (greater than 500)
• Effective people management experience
• MCIPS qualified
Skills & Abilities
• Organization skills: This position requires one to be a self-motivator with the ability to organize, analyze, priorities, and multi-task in a methodical way whilst working in a fast-paced environment, using a very strong eye for detail.
• Communication skills: This person will be required to establish and maintain effective communication with peers and senior management. It is important to be able to speak, listen, and write well, in addition to providing presentations, facilitating meetings and training, and create reports.
• Creativity skills: A creative capacity will be required from this post holder to assist in generating solutions to unique issues and challenges.
• Integrity: An undivided and unbiased mentality is required while executing tasks. This person will be trustworthy, hold confidence and resilience when faced against tough situations.
• People skills/relationship building: This job requires excellent influencing skills along with a desire to deliver a high-quality end user experience. Relationship building is key in earning trust, respect, and credibility with both international suppliers and colleagues. Strong negotiation skills across all levels of the business and across the various cultures within our global supply base are required as is the aptitude to work both independently and to be a strong team player.
Environment: Open Office – typical spacious room, desks close together
Shop floor, including some time inside and outside production or workshop environments
Travel: International travel as required to meet business needs
We want you to love your work and bring that energy to the job every day, no matter what the task. You’ll be someone who keeps up to date with the latest technologies and is always willing to share their knowledge with colleagues.
Our department is busy. We need someone who can run with the pack but also bring their own personality to their work.
You should be personable, friendly and supportive, acknowledging that you’ll get to work with colleagues from all seniority levels across all departments on a daily basis.
What we’ll do for you
We offer an excellent package which includes a competitive salary; vacation time as well as the opportunity to purchase additional vacation, we also offer a discretionary annual bonus, medical (including family cover), dental and vision coverage, AFLAC, 401k employer matching up to 6%, company-paid short term and long-term disability insurance, company-paid life insurance and stock purchase options.
With the encouragement and development, you need, we help you to become your ultimate you. Beyond building a successful career, we also support the wishes and ambitions of our staff outside of the office in achieving a health work/life balance - the wellbeing of our staff is paramount to us, which we actively promote and support by regularly delivering a variety of wellbeing initiatives. There will also be opportunities to be actively involved in community and charity projects and to take part in numerous subsidized social events.
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Polite Notice
We politely request that we are not contacted by any recruitment agencies. We have a preferred supplier list and high volumes of speculative calls from agencies negatively impact upon the efficiency of our business. Please help us to maintain the highest levels of customer service by respecting our wishes.